Uji, the Matcha Town, in One Day
The Phoenix Hall at opening, matcha whisked by the old tea merchants, the oldest shrine hall in Japan and a walk up the river into the tea slopes.
Last updated 2026-09-03 · 1-day self-guided plan
Uji & Byodo-in
Green tea, a river and the temple on the ten-yen coin
For tea drinkers and anyone who wants a slow half-day out of Kyoto that costs little and never feels crowded after the first hour.
1Byodo-in Phoenix Hall
The JR Nara Line rapid takes about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station to Uji; from the station it is a 10-minute walk down Byodo-in Omotesando. Arrive around 9:00 when the gates open. The Phoenix Hall, printed on the ten-yen coin, sits over its reflecting pond; the interior visit is a separate timed ticket sold at the entrance, and the Hoshokan museum holds the original phoenix statues and temple bell.
1 HourCost: ¥500–1,000
2Omotesando tea shops
Back on the approach street, the old tea merchants, Nakamura Tokichi, Ito Kyuemon and Tsuen by the bridge, roast and grind on the premises. Around 10:30, take a seat for a bowl of usucha whisked to order with a matcha sweet; several shops let you whisk your own bowl at the table. Buy a tin of Uji matcha here rather than at the station.
1 HourCost: ¥1,000–2,000- 3
Uji Bridge and Ujigami Shrine
Cross the Uji River by Uji Bridge, one of the oldest in Japan, then follow the east bank upstream past the Tale of Genji monument to Ujigami Shrine, whose main hall is the oldest surviving shrine building in the country. It is small, plain and usually empty. The Tale of Genji Museum a few minutes on explains the novel's final chapters, which are set in Uji.
1 HourCost: Free 
4Riverside lunch and Kosho-ji
Eat cha-soba, green-tea noodles, at a riverside restaurant around 12:30, then walk up the east bank to Kosho-ji, a Zen temple whose long stone-walled approach is lined with maples. Beyond it the lanes climb into small tea fields on the slopes above the river; from early May the young shoots are shaded under black netting, which is what gives Uji matcha its sweetness.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥1,500–2,500- 5
River islands and Taihoan tea house
Cross to the islands in the middle of the river by the Asagiri Bridge, where cormorant fishing boats moor for the summer evening displays, then back to the west bank. Taihoan, the city-run tea house beside Byodo-in, serves a short formal tea ceremony at a modest price without a reservation until late afternoon. Trains back to Kyoto run every few minutes.
1 HourCost: ¥500–1,500
Day 1 Estimated Cost
- Food & tea¥3,000–5,000
- Transport¥500–800
- Admissions¥1,000–2,000
Tips
Take the JR Nara Line rapid, not the local: it skips stations and does Kyoto to Uji in about 20 minutes; Keihan Uji station is closer to the river if you are coming from Gion.
The whole day is flat and within 2 km of the station; the only climb is the lane above Kosho-ji, so ordinary walking shoes are fine.
Order matcha as usucha to taste the grade; lattes and soft serve hide the difference between the cheap tins and the good ones.
The Phoenix Hall reflection needs still water and morning light; the wind picks up after noon and the pond loses its mirror.